ReMix:NiGHTS into dreams... "Dreamcatcher" 4:13

By Skrypnyk

Arranging the music of 2 songs...

"Dreams Dreams", "Gate of Your Dream"

Primary Game: NiGHTS into dreams... (Sega , 1996, SAT), music by Fumie Kumatani, Naofumi Hataya, Tomoko Sasaki

Posted 2016-01-09, evaluated by the judges panel


A new solo ReMix from Skrypnyk? Hells yes..."Last Night a DJ Kidnapped Mallow" remains one of my favorite mixes of SMRPG & in the genre, Andrew had a couple excellent collabs featured last year and back in 2009, and his prior solo featured ReMix was ALSO from NiGHTS and arranged the same source, so it's time to revisit that OST and see what he's come up with in the years since. This is actually a reworking/tweaking of the secret bonus track he contributed to Lucid Dreaming, a kind of ambient hip-hop ballad that swooshes & swirls under the stars:

"Way back in day, I had thought about doing a NiGHTS EP where I'd find 6 or so people to remix "Gate of Your Dream" in their own style, compile the mixes together, and release a 20-30 minute EP dedicated to this one tune. Though I never did pursue this, Level 99 had started up his own NiGHTS project and had approached me asking if I wanted to be apart of it.

I remember asking him not to tell anyone about my contribution to the album. What I meant by that was I didn't want to be credited at all with this mix. No MP3 tags, no linear notes, no mention on the site, nothing. Not that I thought my mix was bad or wanted to pull an Alan Smithee, but I thought it would be unique if the album ended with a hidden or anonymous track, and see if people would be curious enough to figure out who was behind it.

The original idea at the time was to create two mixes, one being bright and fun, the other being dark and eerie. I never got around to creating the darker mix and have since lost interest.

This remix is sort of a reprise take on my "Escape" mix where I re-sample a few elements. I wasn't fully satisfied with the remix that ended up on the album. I liked the idea, didn't like the execution. I've spent the last two weeks going back and touching up a good portion of the mix, rewriting some parts, polishing the mixing, etc., etc."

Very floaty, transcending vibe, complete with a power animal cameo wrapping things up at the end... suggesting we were in our cave, the whole time... or perhaps Skryp's? Emunator had much to say:

"I don't think I've been happier to see anyone's name in the submissions inbox than this. Skrypnyk is one of my favorite remixers - despite having produced only a handful of remixes, every submission has been singularly memorable in its own right. The original 'Escape into the Twilight' was my introduction to Skryp's work and has remained in my listening rotation for the last 7 years, so hearing a proper reprise is a real treat for me personally!

This version utilizes most of the same building blocks as the original, but the heightened emphasis on drums and the swirling, bugged-out effects really shows how Skryp has evolved as an artist in 7 years time. Glitches are plentiful but tastefully-implemented without relying on simple dBlue glitch patterns, and never compromise the mood of the track. One particular detail I loved was the little audio clips that are barely audible throughout the track, contributing to the dreamy atmosphere and creating some very memorable moments when they "peek through" the rest of the soundscape. The detail work absolutely makes this track for me and helps it stand comfortably apart from its predecessor."

The tempo & overall mood between this mix and its ancestor are pretty close, so this DOES stretch the limits of what we'd consider a standalone, new arrangement of a previously mixed source from the same artist, but the production is noticeably altered, especially on the percussive & ambient elements... in other words, it stands apart from its sibling, but it also stands very close. They're almost like... twin seeds ;) Enveloping, oddly peaceful stuff from Skrypnyk - great to see more music from him, interesting companion piece to his own arrangement from 2008, and well worth getting lost in!

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 6 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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Crulex
on 2018-06-04 02:20:27

This is wild and a little trippy, certainly fits the whole atmosphere of falling asleep and dreaming before waking up to voices and outside car honking noises, where the ReMix stops. Out of context, I can see how the ending might snag a few folks, but I think it works as intended. Good beat, a sweet lucid ambiance with just the right amount of reverb, and the piano wasn't loud enough to take me out of the "dreamy" bits, but was loud enough for me to appreciate it. This is pretty damn good.

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Trism
on 2016-01-14 09:10:52

The whole soundscape in the first minute or so sets the mood perfectly for this track, it's the kind of track that if you fell asleep with this on it would follow you into your dream and stick around for the whole NiGHT (see what I did there? ;))
The only thing I don't like about this track is glitched drums at around 02:45 onwards; that kinda took me out of the semi-daze I was in while listening to this. Only a minor nitpick for me though. The ending was abrupt but did fit with the 'narrative' that had been built up throughout (falling asleep - dreaming - waking up - AWAKE!). [4.5/5]

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nitrozsz
on 2016-01-10 00:43:40

Thanks for clarifying @Liontamer . I wanted to believe it was on purpose cause in a weird way, it kinda added another layer to that whole "lucid" experience. Now that it's intentional as you say, the ending strikes me as that feeling you get when you immediately wake up in the middle of a dream, or...something, I dunno. All this lucid talk is making me more tired than I already am :P

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Liontamer
on 2016-01-09 23:50:55
2 hours ago, nitrozsz said:

Does it seem like the track cuts off abruptly at the end for anyone else, or is it just me? Because it feels like there was a few more seconds left until the track ended...and then it just cuts off.

I received a WAV from Skrypnyk, and that's simply how it ends, i.e. it's on purpose. :-)

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nitrozsz
on 2016-01-09 21:07:55

Does it seem like the track cuts off abruptly at the end for anyone else, or is it just me? Because it feels like there was a few more seconds left until the track ended...and then it just cuts off.

That nitpick aside, this feels very lucid. You're asleep, and then throughout the first minute, you're taken to that lucid state of mind. The distorted background work sounds like a representation of reality, while the music in the foreground represents the dream. It's very fascinating. The piano sounded very pleasant, wasn't really a fan of the percussion work, but it isn't distracting enough to ruin the track for me. It just doesn't make me feel "relaxed" compared to the rest of the production work. I was honestly more distracted by how the track ended. I wanna believe that it represents waking up from that lucid state, but it's tough to say for sure without knowing for sure if I'm just hearing things. Anyway, it's still a nice, creative, and dreamy track.

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Liontamer
on 2016-01-09 02:04:35

What did you think? Post your opinion of this ReMix.

Sources Arranged (2 Songs)


Primary Game:
NiGHTS into dreams... (Sega , 1996, SAT)
Music by Fumie Kumatani,Naofumi Hataya,Tomoko Sasaki
Songs:
"Dreams Dreams"
"Gate of Your Dream"

Tags (10)


Genre:
Ambient,Trip Hop
Mood:
Chill,Mellow
Instrumentation:
Bells,Piano,Sound FX,Synth
Additional:
Effects > Glitching
Usage > Winter Holiday

File Information


Name:
NiGHTS_into_dreams_Dreamcatcher_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
7,346,762 bytes
MD5:
5f2a7af3cc891aec16f48f87619b7e31
Bitrate:
229Kbps
Duration:
4:13

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